LEON, Mexico – There should be plenty of attacking fireworks on display on Thursday night when Mexico’s Club Leon welcome in the Seattle Sounders to the Estadio Leon for their 2022 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League quarterfinal second leg.
The Sounders enjoyed a dream outing in the first leg in a 3-0 victory, which could have had an even wider margin of victory if not for the heroics of Club Leon GK Rodolfo Cota, who made six saves.
Club Leon’s attack was never able to get going in Seattle, but a golden opportunity to turn things around comes on Thursday at home.
It will be imperative that the likes of MF Luis Montes and MF Elias Hernandez get going early. Hernandez had a goal in each game in the Round of 16 against Guastatoya of Guatemala and a quick score or some early chances created by Montes could give Club Leon the momentum they need for a comeback.
Seattle will also have to be wary of attacker Angel Mena, who had 19 completed passes, two ball recoveries and arguably the best chance at a goal for La Fiera in the first leg.
The Sounders were missing two of their key players in last week’s first leg, FW Raul Ruidiaz and MF Nicolas Lodeiro, but they still managed to overwhelm the Club Leon defense.
Pulling the strings was MF Cristian Roldan, who for the second straight SCCL match had a goal and two assists, while FW Fredy Montero contributed a pair of goals.
With those two in the mix again, Seattle can really make Club Leon’s night even more difficult with an early goal and push themselves closer to a first SCCL semifinal since 2013.
Game Notes, Stats Club Leon vs Seattle Sounders FC
